A Drier Macao

What's better than waiting in line to go through customs in an airport?

Waiting in line to go through customs in a LANDport.



After class in Gongbei I walked the few blocks to the Zhuhai-Macao border crossing, waiting in line for an average time, and met my friend John, who had already crossed over. This was my second time visiting, and the first with clear weather. I cringed from the sunlight, it was so bright and warm this December day.


We crossed the bridge to Taipa and made our way to the Venetian, where John wanted to buy a new Ipod. Although out, we
a) saw a decadent Christmas display

b) saw a funny store window sign

and c) got hit on by a prostitute. She was pretty, but seemed taken aback when I told her my boyfriend would mind.


We passed a hillside graveyard, which we didn't get to see, but I'd still like to. It looked different, first of all because it was on a hillside, but also because the tombs jutted out and almost resembled sarcophagi lying above the coffin. We had a nice view, similar to the ferry ride a few days ago, but much less obscured by fog and nighttime. Casino shuttles are a great free way to get around.


In fact, here's a good time to show just how sm/foggy it can get. This is looking out from my apartment toward the ocean. You can normally see mountains in the distance, along with the road stretching a few dozen miles.


We walked around Macao. Many people ride scooters, because this is one of the most densely populated places in the world; as well the streets are narrow.


We came across an art gallery. The artist inside let us sign our names on some red velvet (mine was the only English name) and in addition let me take photos of his paintings. These were done on some type of cloth; the tigers were painted in such detail. Every hair was accounted for.




This is a new science museum opening up later this year. Unfortunately I won't be able to see it. Included is a giant telescope (although I wonder how they'll be able to see through all the light and air pollution... Rarely do I see more than one star in the sky).


The roads are very narrow, due to Portugian influence. I think I made that word up. I felt like I was walking in Spain, or in a maze, as I walked through Macao. Old buildings are either renovated or adapted to fit with a fresh theme; history isn't repaved as is the case with mainland China.

Of course there were many people, tourists and locals. Hundreds of shops containing anywhere from a plethora of desserts to baked potatoes, dinner, and shoppes. Everything seemed happy here, like everyone was on vacation.



We stopped in an Italian restaurant owned by some Fillipinos called Cafe Toscana. I splurged.
A grand serving of the cheesiest lasagna I'd tasted in a year. $90.00
A glass of red House Wine. $28.00
Two chocolate brownies. $20.00
Grand total of $138.00 Patacas on an excellent meal, and some fine company. The Fillipino owner had a hint of "Louigi" in him, and we met two Belgians who spoke Flemmish rather comically. (and an overspoken well-speaking English Chinese man who was trying to spread the spirit of Christmas by bringing up jovial accounts of his knowledge of Canada and Belgium)
To be fair, translated, I spent only $21.29 CAD, but it's been one of my top three most expensive meals here. Western food preparators seem to be rare and thus the food is marked up, though ingredients (excluding cheese) are mostly easy to come by.


There were three churches we visited, all in varying degrees of operation. Large, stuffy, and Catholic, they were still interesting remnants from a historical perspective. You can see the famous Lisboa Casino in the background here, as well as a large part of the central district.

We approached the ruinous facquade of St. Paul's College. A lady was having her wedding photos taken, in the mileu of the crowd, snapping photos and eating BBQ. There were bones of martyrs inside, but upon arriving we realised we'd only have enough time to see the front. It was an amazing archaeological feat for a church that had burned down nearly 200 years ago was still standing in midst of a bustling city.

John was approached for a survey. Ferry ports, hotels, tourist spots, so many surveys!


At a foreign food store I finally found sweet and sour sauce. You'd think, China? of Sweet and Sour Chinese Chicken Balls? No, that is western Chinese food, and cannot even be found in the foreign food stores of Zhuhai.
I also found this mystery cloven foot, which I'm guessing is a pig's, wrapped in tin foil and fastened in.

Good place to put, I had a pig brain for lunch today at a Korean BBQ. Texture and taste, similar to an egg. Nearly puked, but three bites later, had it all down.

Made our way over to the dog races at the "Canindrome". (play on canines, and thunderdome) lol...
Only to find that it was closed. On a Friday night! I must see this before I leave. Disappointed, we walked back to the border and called it a night.


Had a really enjoyable time today teaching. Classes are nearing completion for the first semester. For my last class of 12 year olds I stayed playing soccer with them after I'd finished teaching. I've got a sweet deal here because I can teach the things that I enjoyed so much as a kid in highschool, and hopefully influence their learning so that it's also enjoyable.

Tomorrow I'm going to teach the younger ones to sing John Jacob Jingle-Heimer Smith.